Flexible metal cord and method of making same



Jan. 12, 1932. v C, Hl KESTENMAN i 1,840,78

FLEXIBLE METAL CORD AND METHOD oF MAKING SAME Filed July 2l, 1930 Q7/enh".-

. 5 particularly in a? hollow cord made from i i0 'type specified Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED; "STATES PATENT OFFICE: .f

oHARLEs nr. Kns'rENMAN', or* rnovIDENcE, vnnonnisnnitn, AssIGNon To KESTENMAN BROS. MFG. oo., on rnovinnivcn, RHODE Isigiiinn,` A oonroRATroN or :aHonn rsLAND FLnXIBLn METAL connAND-Mnmnonor Manilva SAME' Application med July 121, 1930. serial No.469,517.

This invention `relates @to f improvements in the constructionof exiblevmetalcords, bands and the like ifor use as vknecklaces, girdles, wrist-watch-.straps or bracelets land consists woven or reticulated fabriocomposed of intermeshed strandsvof wire One object ofthe inventionis to provide i a substantially hollow, vflexibleV cord of the formed from a'rolled strip of lntermeshed wire strands -andhavinga close, Vsmooth joint where the edges of thefabric abut in ia seam. Another object ofthe'invention is to pro- -edges of itslongitudinalseam so formed `as toprevent the .wire or becoming unmeshed. l Y Another object of the invention is to provide an articleofthetype specified of more finished and ornamental appearance,v with the seam on its side inconspicuous and de*- void of projecting ends' of the wire liable to scratch the flesh or catch inthe garments of "the wearer. Y c Further objects lof the improve'mentI` are set forth in the' following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of i the-invention, by way ofeXample-,as illus- In the drawings: .l 1

Fig. l is a plan view ofa wrist-watch strap or bracelet constructed from av flexible. cord embodying the present invention;

Fig'. 2 isan enlarged perspective view of a strip or sheet of reticulated wire-mesh fabric from which the cord is constructed;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the method of folding the longitudinal edges of the'strip to form a selvage therealong;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view ofra relatively short length of the hollow cord.

formed by rolling the strip of fabric into a tube; and f Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged cross-sectional view of the cord, illustrating a preferred arrangement of the inwardly-folded marginal portions at the seam on its side.

In the present drawings the crosshatching is intended to illustrate the mesh of the wire vide a cord ,of the type specified having the strands ,from .unraveling ,tratedby the accompanying drawings.,l v v j Y' 'f' the strip maybe performedpriorto.roll- ...ing or formingthe fabric into the tubular cordg'or the folding and rolling operations 'may be accomplished yat one operation by' feeding the strip of fabric through rollers or` .drawing it through one or more dies. .Y n

The strip 2 is rolledor Vformedy into the strands which are woven, braided or otherwise fabricated in interlocking relationship in any'preferred manner as well known to those versed in the art.

The present invention contemplates the;l

use of a strip of line wire fabric of the nature described, the wire being of gold, silverpor platinum, if desired, or inother cases plated with one of these precious metals. In carryingout the invention a relatively narrow strip ofsuch fabric ofconsiderable` length lis provided, Fig. 2 ofthe drawings showing only a short section 2 of the strip due to the limitations of the sheet of drawings.

At the first operation in forming the cord the strip 2 is foldedalong` its longitudinal edges substantially on the lines aL-.a of Fig.

A2.-v Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings rthe marginal portions 3 atthe sides of the strip are bent inwardly and creased along the .folds 4- to cause them to standat an acute angleto the flat plane of the fabric ,the inherent sti- .ness of the wire providing for a permanent set of the folded portions of the fabric.

other cases the marginal portions of the strip j may be folded substantially flat against the main s\tripalthough the first described methtol od is preferable for awpurpose as later Vexplained. v i

. The foldingof the marginal portions of tubular cord 5, see Fig. 4, by any suitable seam. ",As thefolded edges lof the stripl are rolled'together the inturned portions 3 assuine a position as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 5,*wh'ereby they `act to brace they walls of thetube to resist any tendency to crush or Niiatten'its sides.' y That is to say, vthe relative-Y 1ly. flat linturned. wings 3 of the fabric" project across the interior of the tube in the relation of chords to its arcuate sides, thus forming struts or braces to prevent collapse or crushing of its walls; it being noted that the rough edges of the fabric formed by the ends or points of the wire strands frictionally grip the interior walls of the ltube to prevent them from sliding or slipping thereon. Due to this novel and improved method of construction the tubular cord may be composed of thinner and lighter wire mesh, while at the same time being proof against collapsing or flattening of its walls and possessing the necessary attribute of flexibility to adapt it to conform to the shape of the wrist or other contour on which it is worn as a bracelet, necklace, girdle or the like.

The present improved metal cord or band may be embodied in various articles of jewelry and adornment, as before indicated, Fig. 1 illustrating one example in the nature of a bracelet for wrist-watches. As shown in this view of the drawings two'sections 5 of the cord are doubled to form loops 7 for attachment to the hails on the side of the watchcase, or in other instances to a bracelet ornament, while the ends of the cord are secured to the opposite parts of a clasp 8. Metal slides l0 may be employed to enclose the opposite lengths of the cord to hold them in parallel, adjacent relationship.

Other methods may be used for combining lengths of the cord to form various articles of adornment as practiced in the jewelry and kindred arts, the present invention" relating to the structure of the cord itself and not being limited as to its method of use.

It will be observed that the invention provides a particularly simple yet sturdy construction of metal cord for the uses specified, and one having a smoother, more finished and ornamentalappearance than similar articles heretofore employed for like purposes.

By folding the longitudinal marginal portions of the fabric inwardly the joint between the abutting edges thereof is made closer and tighter without rough projections or irregular gaps and the strands of wire are prevented from unraveling. With previously used cords the raw edges of the fabric meet in a ragged unsightly seam and the projecting ends of the wire are apt to scratch and injure the iiesh of the wearer. Moreover, the present improved structure provides a more durable cord which is proof against unraveling or disintegration of the wire fabric, While the inner bracing or stiffening strips 3 sustain its walls in shape to prevent distortion or collapsing of its sides. While the invention is herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understoodV that I do not limit myself to the eXact embodiment disclosed, as Avarious modications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the lappended claims.

I claim:

l. An article of the type specified comprising a strip of wire mesh fabric having its longitudinal marginal edges folded over and creased and the creased portions of the folds brought together in a close seam to form a round cord.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a metal cord constructed from' a strip of reticulated wire fabric folded along its marginal edges and creased in the folds, said strip being rolled into tubular form with the creased portions of the folds abutting in a close seam.

3. As a new article ofmanufacture, a ieXible metal cord consisting'in a strip of wire mesh fabric having its marginal portions folded inwardly and creased and the strip rolled into a tube with the creased portions of the folds abutting in a close seam and the inwardly directed portions of the fabric eX- tending across the interior of the tube to brace its walls against collapse or compression.

4L. An improved method of manufacturing flexible metal cords consisting in providing a relatively narrow extended strip of wire mesh fabric, folding the longitudinal marginal portions of the strip inwardly and creasing it at the folds and rolling the' strip into a tube with the creased portions thereof cpli'npressed into closely vabutting relation s 1p.

5. An improved method of manufacturing flexible metal cords consisting in providing a relatively narrow strip of wire mesh fabric, folding substantial marginal portions of the strip inwardly to lie at an angle to its face, creasing the folds along the strip, and rolling the strip into a tube to bring the creased portions of the folds into abutting relationship with the inturned marginal portions thereof projected across the interior of the tube in engagement with the interior walls thereof to brace its sides against distortion or collapse.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiX my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN. 

